Friction shock absorber



July l0, 1945. Q E, DA1-H 2,380 028 FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBER v Filed oct. 2o, 1945 @W f C www @Q l z 3, QW ////2////a@7@@\ M7@ ,t 4. 7. m. ,w fw Z .m 1.,. X WB- xn @Mg EyA 'Patented July 10,

morioiv snocx Anson-BER. George E. Dath, Chicago,v Ill., assigner to W. 11./

Miner, Inc ware Chicago, lll., a corporation of Bela- ApplicationAOctober 20, 1943, Serial No. 506,944'

' .6 Claims( (Cl. 267-9) Y This invention relates to improvements in friction shock absorbers, especially adapted for use in connection with truck springs of'railway cars for snubbing or dampening the action of the springs.

' Oneobject of the invention isto provide a friction shock absorber which is substituted forY one or more of the spring umts of a ,cluster of truck springs of 'a railway car to dampen the action of the truck springs. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorber of the 'character indicated, of simple design, comprising a friction post and a pair of friction shoe members having sliding frictional engagement with then post,v

- wherein the relative movement of` the post and shoes is yieldingly resisted by spring means which also serves to press theshoes and post into tight frictional engagement with each other.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism as set forth in the preceding paragraph, wherein thepost is tapered and the shoes embrace the tapered post at opposite sides and are held in T portion comprises a half ring section, thel two desion or recess I3, adapted to accommodate the railway, car. The post member proper, which depends from the disclike portion-'I I, is tapered downwardly, as clearly shown in Figure 1, thus presenting fiat friction surfaces II-Il onv oppo-v site sides thereof which converge toward leach.

other in downward direction. At the bottomend, the post isprovided with laterally, outwardly projecting, heavy nanges I5- I5 at'the friction surface sides thereof, forming, in ell'ect, a head member presenting vupwardly facing, horizontal stop shoulders.

The two friction shoes B and C are of similar design except as hereinafter pointed out. Each shoe compr es a base portion I5 and an arm II upstanding rom said base portion. Each base half ring sections being in abutment with each other and together defining a complete Vtwo piece f i ring. Each arm Il is of substantially 'L-shaped frictional contact with the post by a spring ele? ment surrounding the post and shoes and having its opposite ends bearing on an abutment flange on the postand base anges on the shoes, which 'base flanges mount the shoes for slight rocking action against the. resistance of the spring, whereby spreading of the shoes through the action of the tapered post is yieldingly resisted by the spring element.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims herein-` after following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specication, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of my improved` friction shock absorber.

Figures 2 `and 3 are horizontal sectional views,

corresponding respectively to the lines 2 2 and 3-13 of Figure 1, the spring resistance being' omitted in Figure 3. 4Figures is an elevational y view, looking from right to left in Figure'l, theA spring resistance being shown in vertical section.

As shown in the drawing, my improved friction shock absorber comprises broadly a friction post A; two friction shoes B and C; and a spring resistance D. I y Y The friction post A comprises a relatively wide platelike portion II), whichforms the post meniber proper, having a 4laterally projecting'annularflange II at the upper end, which is in the vform of a heavy disc, having a downwardlyoiset centralportion I2, which, is formedwith acentral rform having a` horizontally disposed bottom sec-V tion I8 which is raised above the base portion and an upwardly extending, vertically disposed section I9 at the outer end of the section I8. The section I8 andthe lower-end of the section I3 of the arm I'I of the shoe B are slotted lengthwise,

as indicated at 20 in Figures 1, 3, and 4, to accommodate the corresponding portions of the I1 of the shoe C which are reduced in'width, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the reduced portion being indicated by 2I. As shownin the drawing, the horizontal bottom sections I8 of the arms I1 of the two shoes exterd in opposite dlrections from their respective bases I6-I6 so that the vertical sectionv I9 of the L -shaped arm I1 i of each shoe and its base I6 are located at opposite sides of the Vpost A. The upper end portion of each arm I'I is provided with a lateral enlargement 22 on the inner side thereof, providing a l downwardly facing, horizontal shoulder 23, overhanging the corresponding stop flange I5 of the post A. The enlargement 22 presents a longitudinallyextending, nat friction surface 2l on the inner side of the shoe, which is 'engaged with the friction surface I 4 at the corresponding side Y oi?f the post. A s shown most clearly inA Figure 1, the base members vI6---I 8 are provided with open..

ings 25 adapted to receive the usualcenteringv projection of the bottom spring plate of the truck spring cluster. f I

The'spring resistance Dv is in the form of a single coil surrounding l'the post A and the upstanding portions I9 of the arms I 'I of theshoes .l ual spring centering projection of the top spring plate for the truck spring cluster vof the I springcoil.

.that come within the scope of B and C, and has its upper and lower-ends bearing respectively on the flange I I of the post A and the base portions I6--I6 of the shoes B and C. f The outer sides of the sections I9 of the arms I1 are preferably rounded oif, as shown, and upwardly tapered to provide proper clearance to facilitate assembling of the parts within the In assembling the parts of my improved friction shock absorber,.the shoes B and C are first connected to each other by engaging the arm I1 of the shoe C through the opening or slot of the arm I'I of the shoe B, the shoe C being first turned to position to align the. width of the upper ...y

the base portions IB-IB at diametrically opposite sides of the mechanism remote from the meeting edges of the base portions. The spring D is then placed around `the shoes, resting on the base anges II--Ii Thel post is then applied by inserting the same downwardly within the coil of the spring D and entering the same be- 'tween the tilted signes B and C; As the post is forced downwardly. the spring D is compressed against the 'base portions IS-IS of the shoes. The post is forced downwardly until the stop flanges IS-IE thereof are at a level below the shoulders 23-23 of the shoes. The supports for the base portions are then removed, permitting the shoes B and C to swing into engagement with the post A under the pressure of the spring D,

thereby bringing the parts to the assembled posi' tion shown in Figure 1 with the shoulders 23;-23 in overhanging engagement with the stop flanges I5-I5 of .the post.

The operation of the' improved shock absorbing mechanism is as follows: Upon the cluster of springs'of the railway, car truck being come pressed between the spring follower plates of the truck springs, the friction post A and the friction shoes B and C are moved toward each other in lengthwise direction against the resistance of the spring D. Due to the taper of the post, the cooperating ends of the shoes are spread apart and the shoes titlted'ion the inner ends of their base members against the resistance of the spring D which bears on said base members Iii-I6 of the shoes. High frictional resistance is thus produced between the friction surfaces of the post and shoes, thereby snubbing the action of the .truck springs. Uponthe spring follower plates being moved apart during recoil of the truck springs, the expansive actionof the'spring D restores all of the parts to the normal release position shown in Figure 1, separation of the post and shoes in lengthwise direction being limited by engagement I considerthe preferred manner of carrying out my invention, but the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications the claims appended hereto. f

faasaoas and-a spring opposing relative movement of the s shoes and .post 'toward each other, said spring bearing on said base portions of the shoes to resist tilting movement of .the same.

2. In a frictornshock absorber, the combination with a tape ed'friction post; of tiltable friction shoes embracing said post at opposite sides,

each shoe having a base portion projecting lat-` erally'therefrom and beyond the side of the post opposite to the side engaged by said shoe, said base portion being fulcrumed at its inner end.

said shoes and post being slidable lengthwise with respect to each other; and a spring opposing relative movement of the shoes and -post in lengthwise direction toward each other, said springbearing on the base portions of said s hoes to resist tilting movement of the same.

3. In a friction shock absorber, the combination with a tapered friction post having a laterally projecting flange at the upper end thereof; of a -pair of friction shoes embracingsaid post at opposite sides, each shoe having an upstanding sec,- tion and a base portion projecting laterally from said base portion, the base portion of each. shoe extending toward the other shoe and outwardly -beyond the same, each shoe being tiltable about the inner end of its base portion toward and away with respect to each other in lengthwise direction; and spring means `surroundingsaid shoes A and post and bearing at its opposite ends on the 40 flange of the post and 'base `portions of said shoes,

said spring means opposing relative longitudinal movement of said post and shoes toward each' depending centrally from said plate, said post being tapered toward its lower end; a pair of frichaving friction surfaces on opposite sides thereof,`

tion shoes at opposite sides ofthe post, each shoe having a laterally extending base flange project'- ing toward and beyond the other shoe, the base portion of one of said shoeshaving an opening therethrough, through which the base portion of the other shoe extends, each shoe being tiltable about the inner end of its 'base portion toward dinal movement of said post and shoes toward each other and tilting movement of said shoes away fromthe post.;

5. In a friction shock absorber, the' combina` vtion with a top follower plate; of a friction post depending centrally from-said plate, said post said Vfriction surfaces converging toward the lower end ofA said post; friction shoes at opposite sides of the post having lengthwise sliding engagement with the respective friction surfaces of the post, each shoe having a laterally extendthe other shoe, one of said shoes having an opening therethrough, through which the base portion of the other shoe extends, each shoe being tiltable on the inner end of its base portion toward and away from said post; and spring means surrounding said posi'I and shoes and bearing at opposite ends on the follower plate and base portions of the shoes to oppose relative longitudinal movement ofsaid post and shoes toward each other and tilting movement of said shoes away 10 of Stiltable friction shoes embracing said post at 15 opposite sides, each shoe havinga shoulder overhanging the stop angeat the corresponding side of the post to limit relative separation of the shoes and post in lengthwise direction, each shoe having a base portion projecting laterally therefrom and beyond the side of the lpost opposite to the side engaged by said shoe, said base portion being fulcrumed at its inner end, said shoes and post being slidable lengthwise with respect to each other; and a spring opposing relative movement of the shoes and post in lengthwise direction toward each other, said spring bear'- ing` on the :b/ se portions o'f said shoes to resist tilting movem nt of the same.

GEORGE E. DATH. 

